ANC concerned about Thuli Madonsela’s behaviour

The ANC is concerned by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s behaviour, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Tuesday.

“As a chapter nine institution, she has a responsibility to protect the integrity of the office of the public protector in discharging her responsibilities,” Mantashe told reporters in Johannesburg.

“This means she should not undermine another arm of state that she deferred to, to further process a report that she compiled.”

He was speaking after the conclusion of the party’s national working committee meeting on Monday.

Mantashe said Madonsela’s conduct prejudiced the work of Parliament and its committees.

Mantashe was reacting to a letter Madonsela reportedly wrote to President Jacob Zuma last week about spending of R246 million on security upgrades at his Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal homestead.

In her letter she cautioned him that he was second-guessing her recommendations that he should repay that part of the money spent on features unrelated to security, such as a swimming pool, cattle kraal, amphitheatre, and visitors’ centre.

In his reply to her report on Nkandla, Zuma indicated Police Minister Nathi Nhleko needed to determine if he should pay back any of the R246 million.

Madonsela wrote in her letter: “I am concerned that the decision you have made regarding the police minister gives him power he does not have under law, which is to review my decision taken in pursuit of the powers of administrative scrutiny I am given… by the Constitution.”

Mantashe said Madonsela must give Parliament space to process her report.

“The NWC reaffirms the view that Parliament must be allowed to undertake its responsibility of processing all reports and conclude work referred to them,” he said.